Freddie Ljungberg is skeptical that his previous club, Arsenal, would be able to overcome their title drought this season under Mikel Arteta.
Arsenal are looking for their first league title since 2004, and they rose to the top of the table on Saturday after a late 1-0 win against Brentford.
However, Ljungberg is concerned about the team’s offensive, with Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Martinelli, and Gabriel Jesus all having lower goals-per-minute ratios than the previous season, and believes this could be an issue as the season goes.
“I definitely think they’re ready to challenge for the title,’ he said on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football.
“But the stats here are quite telling, and I don’t think they work in their favor,” he added as he looked at Arsenal’s attacking numbers.
Arsenal finished second last season, and Ljungberg believes they can challenge Pep Guardiola’s team again this season, though he is not confident they can win the title.
Speaking on whether they could be City’s closest challengers, Ljungberg said, “Yeah, I think so. But then I think Cities are amazing, so it’s hard.”
Arsenal have conceded the fewest goals in the league this season, but they have already had to grind out four 1-0 victories in their first 13 games.
Ljungberg’s colleague commentator Jamie Carragher acknowledges that Arsenal have improved defensively, but says the team lacks fluidity at the other end of the pitch and does not believe their current level of play will be adequate to keep up with their competitors.
“I don’t think they actually are that much better than last season,” he said.
“Because actually we’re talking about a team going from the third-best defense to the best at the moment, and could that little difference make a difference? Of course. But we’re talking about a team going from almost the second-best attack to sixth; even one of the stats is 11.
“I think if Arsenal continue as they are, I don’t think they can win the league. Because I think so many games are going to the wire, and sometimes that kind of game can go against you.
“You think about the Ramsdale mistake and the big chance Brentford had in the second half. So those that are 1-0 can easily go 1-0 against you.
“Everyone can see it with their eyes; it’s not the same fluidity, the same pace, the same energy, creating chances; you can see that. I don’t think it’s actually anything tactical.
“When I’m watching Arsenal, Zinchenko is going into midfield, and Declan Rice has come in for Thomas Partey, but Thomas Partey was outstanding at this stage last season, and Declan Rice has been outstanding. Actually, in midfield, I’d say they’ve been more offensive.
“Last season, it was Granit Xhaka, and he was almost a midfielder playing an attacking role. At the weekend, that was Trossard, and we’ve seen Havertz in that position.
“But the reason they haven’t been as fluid is that I think individually the attacking players have been average this season, whereas they were on absolute fire last season in terms of Martinelli, Saka, and Jesus.
“Odegaard for me last season was up there alongside Kevin De Bruyne.”
Arsenal will have the opportunity to improve their attacking statistics this weekend when they host Wolves in the Premier League.
